Premier Disco for Professional Entertainment Solutions

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Premier Disco Cancellation Policy

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Premier Disco Cancellation Policy

I am writing this at a time when many events are being postponed or cancelled due to the governments reaction to the Coronavirus outbreak of 2020/1. Due to many restrictions, whether you agree with them or not, our industry has been brought to its knees. Many businesses are going bust and many events are being postponed or cancelled.

What Happens If You Need To Cancel?

It is very unfortunate that many people have no option to cancel an upcoming event. To this point, most of our clients have postponed to a later date in the hope that these restrictions will be lifted. At that time, we all hope to have a great party. The cancellations we have had have been from overseas couples. They have considerably more logistical issues than the average couple planning a wedding in the UK. UK couples have mostly postponed their wedding date.

If you need to cancel the first thing you need to do is to contact us and let us know about it. Even if you are at the earliest stage of considering a cancellation it is advised you get in touch right away. We may be able to help with some advice and guide you through the process.

Will You Lose Any Payments Already Made?

This depends totally on how long before your wedding or event date that you actually cancel.

If you let us know in plenty of time, before we have made any financial or chargeable commitments, we are happy to fully refund all payments we have received from you.

Contrary to what other companies will have you believe we have no legal right to withhold any payments from you. Put more accurately, we can charge you a fair amount for any work already completed or expenses incurred. Otherwise, you will get every penny back.

Any terms written into a DJ contract stating otherwise is most likely an unfair contract term that cannot be defended in law. We are the only DJ company we are aware of to guarantee this protection when an event is cancelled.

Ring-fenced Payments?

Premier Disco ring-fence all payments received.

To ensure your payments are always protected, we ring-fence every single payment received. Any monies you pay in advance for your event, are securely put aside to ensure they are available if a cancellation is made.

We Guarantee Your Refund

We absolutely guarantee that we will refund any payments in line with the previous statements, and law, for any reason you need to cancel your wedding or event.

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  4. Choosing a Wedding DJ

Choosing a Wedding DJ

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How Do You Choose a Wedding DJ?

It is only to be expected that you will be looking for the best DJ available to fit your style and budget. This is a non-exhaustive list of questions you should be asking yourself, and any DJ, you are thinking of hiring.

Premier Disco - How To Choose A Wedding DJ
Does your DJ have the correct experience for your wedding?

There are many different kinds of DJ’s, some with preferences for specific music types.
Some will be a fantastic club or kids party DJ but you need to make sure they are right for your wedding.
A great wedding DJ will have extensive experience in the wedding sector.
Will be playing typical wedding party tunes and any others you may like to hear.
Will be able to include specific genres to your preferences.
Will be able to adapt to suit your requirements.
Will be very confident using a microphone for the formal part of your wedding day but also be able to use it to best effect when the dancing begins.
Will dress and behave in a way best suited for your wedding.
Will not be a distracting feature at any time.

What is your DJ going to provide?

It is easy to book a DJ but you have to understand what your DJ will provide and what you need to bring if anything. What sound and lighting equipment and is it suitable for the venue? Make sure there are no hidden costs and that he/she brings the right experience.

What kind of music does your DJ have?

Most DJ’s own a very large collection of music. You still need to make sure they have the music you would like and that they are comfortable playing it. If the DJ has no experience of the particular type of music you want, they should speak up early and recommend another DJ who does.
DJ’s streaming music has become much more common in the past few years. This will allow them full access to almost anything you want but is totally dependant on the internet. If the wifi fails then you have no music. Make sure your DJ owns their music and is not renting it from some streaming service. Streaming is handy in an environment where there is great wifi for sourcing the odd track they do not have but do not rely on wifi for any reason.

Can you submit playlists in advance?

Some DJ’s will not accept playlists. They say you hire them for their skills and their selection of music. Never accept this or you will be left with very unhappy guests.
A good DJ will acquire a list from you in advance to make sure they have everything you need. They will also take requests on the night from you or your guests.

Will they accept a list of tracks not to play?

It is important to select music to be played at your wedding reception. It is just important to advise on songs you do not want to be played. There are many reasons you may want specific tracks not to be played, make sure your DJ is fully aware.

Does the price include lighting?

The music and presentation are all important but don’t underestimate the impact of good lighting. Ask if this is included in the cost.

Does your DJ have the correct insurance?

Typically you will have a contract with your venue. Your DJ will have a contract with you. If, for any reason, something goes wrong and the venue need to recoup some money for damages or other reason, they will claim against you. If your DJ does not have insurance in place you would need to pay the venue.
DJ Public Liability Insurance (PLI) is an absolute must to protect your venue, you, and your guests.
Simply DO NOT HIRE A DJ WITHOUT PLI.

Does your DJ have their electrical equipment portable appliance tested (PAT)?

Properly tested and certified equipment helps to prevent any safety or electrical issues. This goes hand in hand with PLI. A reduced risk of issues reduces the risk of having a claim.

Does your DJ have a backup plan in case of equipment failure?

If something fails during your event, does your DJ have a suitable back up system so the reception can continue? The very last thing you want to hear is that your party is ending early because an amplifier or other piece of equipment has failed.
Good maintenance and PAT certification help to prevent these occurrences, but things break down. Even brand new equipment or cars can have faults so make sure there is a back up plan.

Does your DJ provide a written contract?

Always have a written contract. It is true that a verbal contract is just as binding but without a written contract you will have no evidence of your agreement.

Are you hiring an individual DJ, agency or company?

There are many direct and indirect ways to hire a DJ. It is often said that using an agency is best. This is not the case.
An agency will have various DJ’s on their books and will say they guarantee a replacement if your DJ is ill before your wedding day. This is true but is also true for any reputable DJ. A good DJ always has back up processes in place just in case. An agency will charge you a large commission (about 25%) for this but will pass the responsibility onto the DJ they have hired. It is most often part of the DJ contract with an agency that the DJ is responsible to provide a replacement if they cannot perform.
Hire a DJ direct but have the contract reflect that they have provisions in place.

Hire A Professional Wedding DJ

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Coronavirus Guidance Extended

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Premier Disco Coronavirus Update

How Will These Delays
Impact Your Event?

We all know about the latest announcement by the UK government of delays to the end of Coronavirus restrictions. Please see the information below about how this may impact your event.

Scottish Government Coronavirus Update

The Scottish government is soon due to lower the Covid level. This will now not happen and we are expecting a 3-4 week delay.

Depending on where you stay, the level would have dropped to either 0 or 1.


Currently, the Scottish Government has most of us in level 1 with some areas in level 2. As we stand, at this time, the government is not allowing dancing or singing even in level 0. With continued 2m distancing and face nappies this is effectively killing off the chance to have a party.

The guidance from the government is the usual mess of loopholes, unclear statements, and misguided advice. It is becoming increasingly difficult to interpret what their intentions actually are. It is a mix-mash of nonsense and conflicting information.

The Way Forward

Our way forward depends wholly on which level you are currently in.

Unless there is a change by the government your event may not be able to go ahead as you planned.

If you are currently in level 1, potentially going to level 0 in July, your event will not be able to have entertainment until level 0 is ended some time in mid August at the earliest.

If you are currently in level 2, potentially into level 1 in July and level 0 in mid August, your event may not be able to go ahead as planned until mid September at the earliest.

This is based on the current government guidelines. We are hoping these will be updated to allow dancing at level 0. If not, then we are all at the mercy of whenever the Scottish Government decides we will get out to play.

What Do We Think Will Happen?

Obviously we all want this over and for all events to get back to normal as a matter of urgency. However, there is little prospect of the timeline of guidance changing for the better. This will definitely cause issues for some of our couples in the next couple of months.

If your event is scheduled in the first half of August, I don’t see any chance of it going ahead with entertainment. Any events in the second half of August, or the first half of September, are likely to fall to the same fate. We need the government to change its guidelines.

Fingers crossed, we will be back to normal mid-September. This is also the start of the first seasonal flu season. Your guess is as good as mine whether the government once again over-reacts and keeps us all in limbo.

What Can You Do?

Your options basically are to go ahead without entertainment or wait until entertainment is allowed. Your venue may insist that they are open for your event and refuse to reschedule or offer refunds. With that in mind, it is probably better to give some serious consideration to postponing your event to a later date. Hopefully, to help you avoid potentially losing a substantial amount of money.

Even if your venue is being understanding and will allow a postponement, dates are getting thin on the ground. After 15 months of cancellations and postponements to this year and now to next year, normal weekend dates are beginning to get difficult to find. Many of our couples have opted for a mid-week wedding and some have chosen the first quarter of next year.

Having spoken to other people in the sector I have found that every DJ is in the same position. Many venues are already heavily booked for next year with some now only taking midweek bookings.

What Will Happen If You Delay?

Think about it and make a decision which is best for you. Remember any delay now may mean you will have to settle for a mid-week event or until a date in 2023.

FINAL NOTE

WE WOULD ALL BE FOOLISH TO THINK THAT THIS IS THE FINAL DELAY TO US BEING ALLOWED OUR FREEDOMS BACK. IF YOU LISTEN TO OR READ ANY NEWS YOU WILL BE AWARE OF THE RAMPING UP OF THE SCARE TACTICS USED THROUGHOUT THIS TIME BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRESS. THEY ARE PREPARING US ALL FOR YET MORE DELAYS!

EXPECT FURTHER EXTENSIONS TO GETTING YOUR FREEDOM BACK!

ACT NOW TO SECURE YOUR DATE

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How To Use Your Online Wedding Planner Site

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Planning

Your online wedding planner site plays a big part in the success of your wedding, corporate, or any other kind of event planning. A well thought out plan will not only guide your service providers but will go a long way to ensure the success of your event.

We, at Premier Disco, fully understand the importance advance planning. We actively encourage all of our clients to access, and complete, their own planning information.

Hire An Experienced Wedding DJ
PremierDJ wedding online planner
Wedding planner home page

What is a planning site and how do I access it?

A planning site is specifically designed to assist in planning your event. The site itself is securely hosted within our own domain. You have exclusive access. This is a site where you, as a client, can provide us with details of your event and submit online music requests in advance. This will give us the best opportunity to be fully prepared.

You can make changes to dates, names, music requests, addresses etc. This information is used to plan our part in your event. It gives us a much better understanding of your expectations and allows us to better meet them.

Access

You can access your site as soon as you confirm a booking with Premier Disco. We will set up the site for you and send your access credentials. All you need to do is click on the weblink, and enter your user name and password, to access all the benefits available to you.

There is a full set of tools available in your planner so you can customise your event the way you would like.

Online Music Requests

Within the planning site is an intuitive online music requests area. Here you will be able to select your most important music as well as extra music for throughout your day. You can also allow your guests limited access to provide a short list of their preferences. Everybody can have input for greater success.

How to use the Online Wedding Planner

We have thought of that too. The online wedding planner is pretty simple to use but it is always useful to get a heads up on the features and way around. To make things easier for you, we have produced a comprehensive video guide which can be found below.

We have tried to provide full guidance on the use of the planner. Your event may have specific requirements so we also understand that we may not have covered everything for every scenario. If you find that anything is missing, or there is a better way to help you plan, then just let us know. We are always listening

Learn more about wedding receptions with Premier Disco

Your planning site is a totally invaluable tool to ensure we have all the correct details of your event.

Have fun planning!

If you already have your planning site login details, you can get access by clicking the button below.

Event Planner

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Sound Limiters

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What is a sound limiter?

A sound limiter is a device that monitors sound pressure levels and displays them typically on a traffic light display. Usually, there is a microphone mounted a short distance from the performance area picking up the audio. To avoid too many technical explanations, this audio is processed by some technical wizardry to provide a visual display.

Typical sound limiter
A typical sound limiter at a safe working level

Once the audio reaches a preset level, the limiter will do one of two things. The first option is the display will be used to visually alert the performer that the audio is too loud. The second option is to cut the mains power to any sockets used by the performer. There is usually a delay before the power is cut to allow the performer to adjust the audio to below the maximum setting.

Although there is less risk to sound and lighting equipment than there was in the early 2000s, there is still a very real risk of fatal failure of equipment. It is certainly within the best interests of the performer to stay below the maximum level set.

Why Have A Sound Limiter?

Most venues have been established for many years or even decades. However, the rising demand for housing has resulted in new housing being built, in some cases, within touching distance of some venues. This has brought many complaints from nearby residents.

There are some pretty strict regulations regarding noise levels. These can be measured in various ways including apps on mobile devices. Official recording devices are calibrated to give accurate readings. These readings are then used to determine whether the sound levels are too high or within the set limits.

Not too long ago, a sound complaint would be dealt with an official taking a reading who would then either advise the performer to reduce their levels or to inform the complainant that the levels are fine and no action will be taken.

In recent years, due to lack of resources, laziness or the PC Brigade, any sound issues are dealt with more severely. Even in a situation where the levels are within the regulations, performers are told to turn it down often spoiling the atmosphere of a party.

A number of complaints later and the local council will issue an order to the venue to make absolutely certain there are no more complaints at the risk of losing their entertainment license. I have personally seen this happen to two different venues over the years.

What We Do To Keep Everybody Happy

We, at Premier Disco, have to comply with regulations and still have a great atmosphere for our clients’ event. We also like to have a good working relationship with every venue we are contracted to even if it is for a one-off event.

To ensure there are no sound issues we arrive early to test the levels and set all equipment so that it is unlikely we will hit the set limit. Speaker placement is crucial to make sure the sound is not going directly towards a microphone used by a limiter. By using limiters and sound processors, we are able to maximise the audio at a level just below it would trigger a sound limiter. Depending on the size of the venue we can also place smaller speakers in quieter areas to make sure everybody can hear what is going on.

This actually improves sound quality and keeps it at a comfortable level. Ideally, we need to operate at around 97dB at smaller venues and higher at larger venues. I have experienced sound limiters set as low as 87dB. This may not sound like a lot but a 3dB drop halves the technical sound level. It doesn’t sound like half but there is a definite noticeable difference. 6dB drops and more, well, we can manage!

Best Advice

When you are booking a venue for your event, ask them if a sound limiter is installed and at what level it is set. Then make sure your entertainers all know what to expect so they can best prepare.

If you are planning on using a marquee but don’t want to work within the limitations set by a sound limiter, ask your venue they may have rooms inside where you can move your party.

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10 Things you should know to make your wedding a party

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10 Things you should know to make your wedding a party
By James Veal

Premier Disco 10 Things you need to know about your wedding

Premier Disco are wedding professionals. We perform at weddings throughout the country every single week of every year. We see what works and what doesn’t. We are there to make every party special by keeping the dance floor full. Your wedding day is special to you and it should be as you wish. We trust you wish it to be a day for everyone attending to remember fondly.

To help us out, you will find below a list of 10 things you really should know.

1. Give us your music request list.

Requests definitely make our job easier. We are well able to provide your soundtrack for your wedding day without any help but your list will let us know what you would like to hear. We limit the number of requests you make so we can use our experience, after all that is what you are paying for, to add variety.

By playing the right songs your party will be great but give us the flexibility to use your list to build the night and your night will be even better. Contrary to popular belief, we do actually structure your night to have a flow of music to best keep the dance floor full for the whole night.

We have many years experience judging how a night will flow so a scripted list of music to play at set times does not work in the flow. Let us know what you would like and let us best decide when to play it.

Hire an experienced Wedding DJ

2. Don’t ask your guests for suggestions on your invitations.

We try to discourage our brides and grooms from asking guests for a music track they would like to hear when they send out the invitations. Some will ask for songs as a joke or to be funny. Some will ask for music that just will not fit into your reception. Others will ask for inappropriate songs.

As part of our service, your guests can ask for up to 5 songs each. On your planner site there is a link and password details you can send to some of your guests. Their requests will be kept separate from yours so we know exactly what you would like. This will mean we have a big list of music but we will also be able to check it over properly to make sure anything we play is appropriate. Guest requests are secondary to yours but will be given the correct consideration. Any requests submitted are not guaranteed to be played.

3. Encourage your venue to have the bar and seating in the same room as the dance floor.

Our experience of venues where the bar and seating are in a separate room from the dance floor is that guests will go to the bar or for a seat and often not come back for a considerable time. It is more difficult for them to hear the music so they are less likely to dance. They are detached from the positive energy the DJ is generating and nothing he does can inspire them to return to the dance floor.

A certain way to kill the party is to separate your guests from the entertainment.

4. Don’t stop the flow

Your DJ will have a plan for the development and structure of your night. This is very fluid and he can change his mind many times a minute. Be positive, make sure your formalities are over before your DJ begins his part of the night.

Asking to stop the music in the middle of a set so someone can make a speech or take a photo will immediately kill any energy already built up. It is then far more difficult for the DJ to get the audience motivated or back to the same level of energy before the interruption.

Don’t stop the DJ to let a guest sing, if you want a singer then let the DJ know at the start. Give him all the information about music and times so he can plan.

5. Consider your guests when allocating seating

Don’t put very young or older people in front of the speakers. Reserve these areas for your younger, party going or clubbing guests.

Don’t sit older people directly opposite the DJ.

Young and old do not like the music too loud or lights shining in their eyes. Position them appropriately at the sides of the room or as far away as possible.

The loudest area is right in front of the speakers, plan ahead so everyone can enjoy the night.

6. Wedding games?

We all want a busy dance floor. Having games in other parts of the room will detract from the dancing. Dancers are like magnets, the more dancers you have, the more people will want to dance. If your guests are busy playing casino at the other side of the room, nobody will want to dance.

If you have games, make sure they are at the early part of your night and are put well out of the way when the party gets started,

7. The Bride and Groom MUST dance!

Every last guest is there because you invited them. They are there to party. As the bride and groom you are the centre of attention. If you are on the dance floor then your guest will join you. If you are outside or at the bar then that is where your guests will also be.

8. Time for Dancing.

This is your day. This is the best day of your life up to this point. There are certain formalities and technicalities that need to take place so do your best to have them done properly and in good time.

There are many events on the day which can easily run over time. The photos, the speeches, the meal, the venue change over. Try to make sure everything happens when it is meant to.

Your DJ will have to set up equipment before your reception. This takes time, usually up to one hour, and no amount of pushing this to be done quicker because ‘the breakfast was late’ can make this happen any faster. It is what it is and it will take the time it will take.

Maybe this can be done before your wedding breakfast or maybe your DJ will provide a full day service. In these cases this is not a problem. If your wedding is due to start at 730pm but doesn’t start until 9pm, your evening party will be a lot shorter.

You will be glad you made sure everything runs as planned, maybe get your Best Man to take the responsibility of keeping to time, or as close as.

9. Plan in advance.

Your online planning page is a fantastic resource for providing information about timings, music and much more. Please make sure you use it to your advantage.

So we can get everything planned, or even rehearsed, your access to the planner closes 7 days before your wedding. Please do not ask for changes after this time.

Your DJ will be co-coordinating with venue staff, caterers, photographers and any other suppliers you have on your day. Any single, seemingly simple change can create confusion and miscommunication, a recipe for disaster.

Keep it simple, keep it planned, keep it right.

10. ENJOY YOURSELF

Simple as that, enjoy!

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